Why WriteAPrisoner? - National Organization of Forensic Social Work

Exploring the prison pen‐pal’s role in positively influencing incarcerated individuals and
ultimately reducing recidivism.
Presenter
Adam Lovell, Founder & President Established WriteAPrisoner.com in 2000
• Appeared on:
20/20
Anderson Cooper
MSNBC
Fox News
CNN
E! True Hollywood
Contact Information:
Adam Lovell
WriteAPrisoner.com
PO Box 10
Edgewater, FL 32132
Email: general‐information@writeaprisoner.com
Website: writeaprisoner.com Objectives
During this webinar, we’ll look at WriteAPrisoner.com’s conception, its growth, and its future along with its impact.
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Increase participants’ understanding of the pen‐pal/inmate relationship by demonstrating the pen‐pal’s role in positively influencing the inmate via correspondence.
Share with participants various methods used by pen‐pals to support/encourage incarcerated individuals and prepare them for successful reintegration into society.
Raise awareness of the overall impact pen‐pal correspondence has on the correctional system and society as a whole.
Discuss the challenges of operating the website.
Agenda
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Overview and Introduction o
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Overview of U.S. Prisoner Population
History of WriteAPrisoner.com
Introduction to Website
Why WriteAPrisoner?
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Social Adjustment and Emotional Wellbeing
Deterring Recidivism
Finding Employment
Agenda
 Methods Used by Pen‐pals to Facilitate Positive Change
o General Correspondence
o Self‐help Series o Reintegration Profiles:
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Back to Work: Employment Profiles
Coming Home: Housing Profiles
Back to School: Educational Profiles
Helping Hands: Correspondence Counseling Profiles
Agenda
 Additional Resources Available to Those Impacted by Crime and Incarceration o Books Behind Bars
o CrimeFreeKids.com
o Children Impacted by Crime Scholarship Fund
 Influence Beyond the Inmate o Impact on Correctional System
o Reduced Recidivism Rate
Agenda
 Challenges
o Sensationalism by the Media
o Public Misperceptions
o Politics
 Summary and Conclusion o Maximizing the Pen‐pal’s Influence on the Inmate
o The Future of WriteAPrisoner.com
 Questions and Answers
U.S. Prison Population at a Glance
Inmate Population 2,300,000+
Quadrupled between 1980 and 2000 2.3 million inmates
1 in 4 if Hispanic
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1 in 9 men
1 in 3 if Black
U.S. Prison Population at a Glance
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$74 billion spent annually
Immigration detention = fastest growing segment
U.S. spends $1.8 billion to detain immigrants annually
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$2.6 billion in sales nationwide in 2010 from prison manufacturers
U.S. Prison Population at a Glance
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Federal sentencing guidelines
“War on drugs”
History of WriteAPrisoner.com
Prison ministries
2000
Desire to create a business to help people (lifeguard/EMT background)
Evolved in different directions
Emphasis on Pen‐pals
Introduction to Website
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MUST BE 18!
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Emphasizes WHY we provide this service
Introduction to Website
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User‐friendly & easy to navigate
Informs & educates viewers
Interactive
o Forum
o Polls
Introduction to Website
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Inmate Pen‐pal Profile
o Posted by Mail or Online
o Photo and Text
o General Information
o Contact Information
o Artwork, Blogs, and Poetry
o Full Disclosure
o Disclaimers
Introduction to Website
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Inmate Pen‐pal Profile: A Closer Look
Introduction to Website
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Inmate Pen‐pal Profile: A Closer Look
Introduction to Website
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Inmate Pen‐pal Profile: A Closer Look
Introduction to Website
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Inmate Pen‐pal Profiles: Search Features
Why WriteAPrisoner?
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90% will be released
Positive interactions promote rehabilitation
Visitation and correspondence increase positive attitudes
Inmates already have lower self‐esteem, lower quality of life, etc.
Inmates are high risk for mental illness caused by isolation, loneliness, & abuse
Why WriteAPrisoner?
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“Inmate visits with approved family members or friends should be encouraged for the positive purpose of maintaining home and community ties, which after release should provide a deterrent to recidivism.” (Florida DOC)
Pen‐pals help find jobs, housing, and other tools
necessary to reduce recidivism.
“Offenders who were visited in prison were significantly less likely to recidivate.” (Minnesota DOC)
Why WriteAPrisoner?
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Inmates who find employment are most successful when using personal connections
Employment is essential to keep from returning to prison
Inmates can develop skills while in prison to help find employment
Methods Used by Pen‐pals to Facilitate Positive Change
 General Correspondence
“Mail is the only thing to look forward to in here...” (J.S., Camp Lejeune, NC)
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“I'm in a place where friends are hard to come by... I thought I could do time by myself, but I was wrong, so now I'm reaching out in the hope of finding someone who can take away the loneliness.” (F.P., Ely, NV)
Letters & postcards
Greeting cards
Emails through official prison email providers
“My friends and family outside of prison have all disappeared. Everyday is a struggle to retain an ounce of dignity. I don't seek pity. I ask you to remember that prison is a very lonely place. Having someone willing to listen, confide in and be an outside source of strength will help to make prison life bearable.” (T.C., Shakopee, MN)
Methods Used by Pen‐pals to Facilitate Positive Change
• Self‐help Series
o Back to School: Education Opportunities for Inmates
o Back to Work: For Inmates Coming Home Within the Year
o Credit Repair, Build, & Maintain Good Credit While in Prison
o Going to Prison: For Individuals Facing Incarceration
o Parenting from Prison: For Parents in Prison
Methods Used by Pen‐pals to Facilitate Positive Change
• Back to Work: Employment Profiles
Methods Used by Pen‐pals to Facilitate Positive Change
• Coming Home: Housing Profiles
Methods Used by Pen‐pals to Facilitate Positive Change
• Back to School: Educational Profiles
Methods Used by Pen‐pals to Facilitate Positive Change
• Helping Hands: Correspondence Counseling Profile
(in development)
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Anger Management Counseling
Family Counseling
Grief Counseling
Rehabilitation counseling
Educational Counseling
Guidance and Career Counseling
Mental Health Counseling
Substance Abuse counseling
Additional Resources Available to Those Impacted by Crime and Incarceration
• Books Behind Bars
o Online resource that bridges the gap between the public and underfunded yet vitally important prison educational department o Work with prison teachers, prison librarians, and prison chaplains o Reference books, dictionaries, fictional reading material, non‐fiction, how‐to manuals, GED or basic education materials, VHS tapes, educational DVDs, audio recordings, and virtually any other educational material o Mentioned in Oprah Magazine
Additional Resources Available to Those Impacted by Crime and Incarceration
• CrimeFreeKids.com
o To help children who have been impacted by crime
o To prevent children from taking a path of crime
o Topics:
Bullying
Peer Pressure
Family Member in Prison
Criminal Involvement
Problems at School
Additional Resources Available to Those Impacted by Crime and Incarceration
• Children Impacted by Crime Scholarship Fund
o Benefit children of inmates and children victimized by crime
o Education is a critical step toward a crime free life
o Scholarship emphasizes crime prevention
o Amount given to date: $6200.00
Influence Beyond the Inmate
 Impact of Pen‐pals on Correctional System
o Inmates who maintain positive relationships with someone on the outside are mentally and physically healthier, which impacts the prison environment.
o Better conduct, less violence, strive for self‐
The U.S. currently has the improvement
• Reduced Recidivism Ratehighest recidivism rate in the world at 60%. o Restored families
o Lowers cost to taxpayers
Compare to Norway at 20%. o Reduces risk of children entering the prison system
This is a national crisis.
Challenges
• Sensationalism by the media
• Public misperceptions
• Politicians who fear “soft on crime” labels
Summary and Conclusion
 Maximizing the Pen‐pal’s Influence on the Inmate
 The Future of WriteAPrisoner.com
Questions & Answers
Please visit WriteAPrisoner.com for additional information.